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Plant Sale Pre-Ordering has closed for 2022. See You Next Year!
Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers and customers who made this year's sale a success! We are working to find new ways to improve the sale in the future, especially the timing considering the late freeze we had, and will update this page with more details. Stay tuned! How Does WICD's Native Plant Pre-Sale Ordering & Open Sale Process Work?
In the winter each year, we accept pre-orders against our native plant inventory. Individuals who sign-up to be on our Native Plant Email List are the first to receive notice of when our online storefront is open and taking orders. We also promote the sale through community bulletins, in the newspaper, and other outreach avenues to help spread the word. We reserve this plant inventory from our Conservation District plant grower in Bow, WA (the Plant Materials Center) and other native plant sources, based on sales from previous years. The plants are harvested in late winter (while dormant) and delivered to us the last week in February. During the pre-sale period, as an order is purchased, it is reserved from our inventory. If we run out of a species, we try to increase our order accordingly, but often local growers have pre-sold all of their stock. This is why we encourage our customers to order early – you’re more likely to get everything you want. Plus, if we do run out early, we have a better chance of finding more inventory. There is also always the chance that an unexpected weather event can cause a particular crop to fail. In that case, we do our best to track down replacements or offer suitable substitutes. Our pre-order typically ends in January each year, and we spend February finalizing orders, confirming our inventory, and preparing for the arrival of our plants. In a whirlwind of activity over the course of 2-3 days just before the pickup date, our intrepid volunteers help us bundle the plants into the pre-orders for pickup. There is the possibility that unsold inventory will be available for sale on the Saturday pickup date. So, support your local conservation district, and place your plant order early. Go native plants! 
DID YOU PURCHASE MADRONES AT OUR PLANT SALE IN THE PAST?
HERE ARE SOME PLANTING AND CARE TIPS: If you are planting one of these beauties in your garden, you must provide a well-drained spot to prevent root rot! Superb as a single tree or in drifts, Madrones do best in a south or west exposure, well drained. Do not over-water or fertilize. Salal (Gaultheria shallon) does nicely below Madrone. Mainly disease resistant, the Madrone is sometimes afflicted with root rot, fungi or soot cankers. Although it prefers some sun, it seems not to mind some partial shade. Poor, even rocky soil is fine, especially a bit on the acid side. Stake your young tree with plastic ties to give it a little extra support until it's well rooted. Some leaves will die in January - February but most will remain and soon new buds appear! As with all plants, keep your Madrone well groomed. Remove any sick leaves or branches with sanitized cutters. As particular as it can be to establish, once it settles down to grow it will withstand high temperatures and drought to wet freezing conditions. Besides visual impact, this tree will add more value to your property than any other native. native plant resources
Native plants provide a landowner with countless possibilities for infusing conservation into their backyards. Whether you have a wetland, a shoreline, a forest, or a lot in town, you'll want to browse and click on the publications listed below. Getting Started with PNW Native Plants
Step-by-Step Guides for Native Plants
Planting "How-To" Irrigation & Watering Mulching Tips Alternative Pest Management Microclimates Native Plant Propagation Native Plant Salvage Pollinators
Birds & Wildlife
Soil Stabilization & Erosion Control (see also our Water Management page)
Rain Gardens (see also our Water Management page)
Wet Sites, Wetlands & Riparian Areas (see also our Water Management page)
Fire-Resistant (see also our Firewise page) Drought Tolerant Washington Glacial Outwash Prairies Shorelines & Bluffs (see also our Water Management page)
Septic Drainfield Landscaping
Screens & Hedges
Lawn Alternatives interested in volunteering?
In addition to our need each year for 60 volunteers to help pack and prepare plant orders for our Annual Native Bareroot Plant Sale, Whidbey Island Conservation District staff can also work with you to find the right project fit based on our current needs and your skill set. With such a modest sized staff, we are always in need of extra help at the office and often have some fun and interesting projects we could use volunteer assistance on. Please give us a call at (360) 678-4708 or fill out the form here to let us know you're interested in talking about "Volunteering" projects that fit your skill set and interests and we'll get back in touch with you. Better yet, subscribe to our Volunteer Email List by clicking here and you'll be one of the first to receive notice when we do an all-call for volunteers in January for Plant Sale. Note: If you have been a volunteer with WICD in the past and receive notice from us via email about volunteer opportunities, then there is no need to re-fill out the form, as we have you in our system and will notify you when opportunities for volunteering are available. Thank you! Our Native Plant Sale VideoLearn about our annual Native Bareroot Plant Sale from former Outreach Coordinator Shannon Bly. |
